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Guatemala / Mexico Repatriation, Reintegration and Local Settlement

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Guatemala / Mexico Repatriation, Reintegration and Local Settlement PROG IAL RAM EC M SP E GUATEMALA / MEXICO REPATRIATION, REINTEGRATION AND LOCAL SETTLEMENT AT A GLANCE Main Objectives and Activities Guatemala: Complete organised repatriation by 30 June, and provide relief packages to families returning individually; monitor negotiations for the purchase of collective farms in Guatemala; complete quick impact projects (QIPs) for rein- tegration by March, and support small-scale projects in communities which have received returnees during the past two years; help returnees obtain adequate documentation; strengthen returnee organisations and women's involvement in community life; and continue to create and strengthen linkages with other national and international organisations to increase the stability and long-term sustainability of returnee communities. Mexico: Facilitate the naturalisation of eligible Guatemalan refugees, and ensure proper legal documentation for all refugees; provide basic support for the infrastructure of communities settled on undisputed land, and incorporate education and health services into the national system; support a community-based credit scheme to help refugees increase their income; facilitate the access of refugees to land ownership; and implement a comprehensive community-based training programme to enhance integration. Persons of Concern Income and Expenditure (USD) MAIN REFUGEE ORIGIN/ TOTAL IN OF WHICH: PER CENT PER CENT WORKING INCOME FROM OTHER FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS TOTAL LOCATION COUNTRY UNHCR-ASSISTED FEMALE < 18 BUDGET* CONTRIBUTIONS AVAILABLE** AVAILABLE EXPENDITURE* Guatemalan Refugees (Chiapas)* 12,400 11,666 50 60 2,457,769 1,320,771 1,105,984 2,426,755 2,380,207 Guatemalan Refugees (Campeche) 5,670 5,664 49 61 Guatemalan Refugees (Q. Roo) 2,435 2,435 49 70 * Includes costs at Headquarters. Returned in 1999** (Guatemala) 2,036 2,036 49 61 ** Includes opening balance and adjustments. * Figure does not include 2,209 refugees living in various locations in Chiapas who did not benefit from UNHCR’s assistance. ** Since repatriation began, a total of 43,700 Guatemalans have returned to their home with UNHCR’s assistance. UNHCR GLOBAL REPORT 1999 Page 372 SPECIAL PROGRAMME Impact • Organised repatriation to Guatemala was successfully concluded in July. By the end of the year, UNHCR had assisted a total of 2,036 persons to return to their homes. • A total of 15 QIPs and 24 small-scale interventions were completed (such as the provision of corn grind- ing mills and the improvement of water systems and health posts). • Community-based organisations were strengthened through training and organisational support. Educational promoters were trained and integrated into the national education system. Local women’s groups were helped with outreach work in returnee communities. • UNHCR facilitated contacts between the returnees, the Government and NGOs, and advocated the inclu- sion of returnee communities in national and regional plans. The Office worked closely with the Comisión Técnica para la Ejecución del Acuerdo de Reasentamiento (CTEAR) to formulate recommendations for devel- opment-oriented agencies. • In Mexico, UNHCR facilitated the integration and legal residency or naturalisation of Guatemalan refugees. A total of 1,544 Guatemalan refugees in Campeche and Quintana Roo became Mexican citizens. In addi- tion, 4,877 refugees had their migration documents renewed in Chiapas. • In Campeche and Quintana Roo, all seven refugee settlements were officially recognised as Mexican vil- lages, and local municipal authorities were established through elections. All 12 communal credit schemes were systematically registered, which gave members full access to other Mexican credit institutions. • In Chiapas, the authorities assumed responsibility for all basic health and education services in the refugee settlements. Some support was provided for infrastructure in settlements on undisputed land. Some 93 sav- ings groups were created under a micro-credit savings scheme. Refugees were able to purchase plots of land as a result of the Government’s decision to allow them to settle permanently where they had been living in Chiapas. WORKING ENVIRONMENT In Mexico, the Government was committed to, and co- operated in, the integration of Guatemalan refugees. The Context The continuing political tension in Chiapas had lit- After three decades of civil war in Guatemala, which tle effect on the integration programme. In Campeche forced tens of thousands of refugees to flee to Mexico's and Quintana Roo, naturalisation enabled refugees to southern states of Chiapas, Campeche and Quintana enjoy equal rights with nationals. With the recogni- Roo, the signing in 1996 of Peace Accords brought rel- tion of seven former refugee settlements as Mexican ative stability to the country. Thanks to the co- villages, the refugee population was able to integrate operation and generosity of the Guatemalan and successfully into state programmes and development / MEXICO GUATEMALA Mexican governments, refugees who remained in plans. Mexico at the end of 1998 were in the unique position of being able to choose between two equally sound Constraints durable solutions: repatriation to their homes in In Guatemala, the devastation caused by Hurricane Guatemala or local integration in Mexico. Mitch, and the presidential campaign (in the run-up to the December elections) caused the Government UNHCR’s repatriation and reintegration programme and the international community to pay less attention in Guatemala has been conducted within the larger to the needs of returnee communities. context of the 1996 Peace Accords. The rejection of constitutional reforms in a 1999 referendum signalled In Mexico, refugee communities in some areas expe- a setback for the peace process, but the newly elected rienced problems due to the uncertainty of land tenure, President continued to affirm the Government's com- shaky relations with local communities and technical mitment to peace. Due to an improved incentive pack- difficulties in the provision of basic services. age for individual returnees, their number (2,036) sig- nificantly exceeded UNHCR’s initial forecast of 300 Funding persons. This unexpected increase made it necessary As in the past few years, substantial budget cuts forced to revise the budget, identify areas where savings could UNHCR to carry out a series of drastic reductions in be made, and closely monitor expenditure. Relief mate- the integration programme in Mexico. These reduc- rials were donated by the Guatemalan Government to tions affected the pace and impact of the programme, help cope with the larger number of returnees. and left some refugee communities on newly acquired UNHCR GLOBAL REPORT 1999 Page 373 SPECIAL PROGRAMME land devoid of road access, sufficient water or sanitary In Chiapas, 33 women’s committees (550 participants) facilities. were trained in leadership skills, women’s rights and the prevention of domestic violence, and another 160 women leaders participated in regional workshops. A ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT Community Services Committee identified 150 vul- nerable individuals, and 90 people were referred to Protection and Solutions appropriate institutions. Widows received support to Personal documentation has historically been a criti- improve or build shelters, and other vulnerable refugees cal issue for Guatemalans whether as returnees or attended gardening courses. UNHCR launched two refugees. As a result of good co-operation with both projects to promote children’s rights, one of them the Guatemalan and Mexican authorities, 96 per cent involved the production of a radio programme which of the returnees in Guatemala are now registered, and was translated into indigenous languages. UNHCR 95 per cent of the refugee population in Mexico has supported a feasibility study for the electrification of been registered and provided with documentation. three returnee communities (to benefit more than The transfer of ownership of land in Campeche and 200 families). Quintana Roo proved to be more complex than expected, as many refugees settled on land whose own- Crop Production: In Guatemala, UNHCR organised ership is constitutionally restricted to nationals. training in coffee-growing techniques and facilitated UNHCR therefore concentrated on the naturalisa- closer co-operation between the National Coffee tion process and only five per cent of the refugee pop- Association and some of the later returnee settle- ulation (who either left the settlements or chose not ments. Three agricultural projects were supported with to become Mexican citizens) have not benefited from equipment, seeds and low-tech machinery, benefiting this option. 900 people (439 of them women). Working together with several community-based women’s associations, With the support of local NGOs and UNHCR, UNHCR set up three corn grinding mills, which sig- Guatemalan refugee women founded a number of nificantly reduced the workload and, in addition, pro- women’s organisations while in exile in Mexico, start- vided a small income. Three QIPs supported the cul- ing in 1992. These organisations brought about posi- tivation of cardamom, cocoa and coffee. tive changes for refugee women there by providing them with labour-saving devices (such as corn mills for mak- Domestic Needs/Household Support: Women’s organ- ing tortillas), creating income-generating projects, isations in Guatemala were involved in the distribu- and providing information on women’s rights, repro- tion of toiletries and cutlery. All individual returnees ductive health
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